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Put the salt shaker down and step slowly away from the table. You don’t realize what you are doing to yourself. The FDA, however, does. They know. They care. The FDA…pregnant pause…well…they love you.

Remember that when the FDA salt regulation makes your food bland. They are doing this for your own good…stupid.

The FDA, or you can call them “Mommy”, will be forcing working with the food industry to lower salt slowly, like how you want band-aids removed. It’s all in an effort to get those naughty Americans to stop making decisions for themselves and start doing what Mommy says by sheer force.

Your sweat tea is next.

Americans are reportedly consuming twice what the government recommends. And government doesn’t like it. The FDA says the move is to help prevent deaths from hypertension and heart disease.

However, an extensive study in 2008 by the Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University found a higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease in people consuming lower sodium diets, not higher.

Really.

The researchers analyzed data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), which was conducted by the federal government among a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults. These data were then compared against death records that had been collected by the government through the year 2000. The sample of approximately 8,700 represented American adults who were over 30 years of age at the time of the baseline survey (1988-1994) and were not on a special low-salt diet.

After factoring in risk factors like smoking, diabetes and blood pressure, the sample of individuals with the lowest sodium diet were 80% more likely to die from cardiovascular disease. In fact, no- and low-salt consumers were 24% more likely to die from any cause.

In other words, salt might save your life. But in the meantime, the FDA might inadvertently kill you.

Salt is necessary for life. It is found in every human fluid, like our blood and sweat and tears. It’s necessary for the transmission of nerve impulses, hydration, pH levels, absorption of minerals, digestion, insulin balance, to fight infections, to clean wounds, essential for the aging and the pregnant, necessary to fight off iodine deficiency, etc, etc. It’s also very tasty.

“All of us have in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and, therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea — whether it is to sail or to watch it — we are going back from whence we came.” John F. Kennedy, Speech given at Newport at the dinner before the America’s Cup Races, September 1962

Each person has their own individual requirement of necessary salt intake, a number that cannot be mass dictated by something like…oh…the federal government if people are to maintain personal health.

The body regulates the amount of salt we consume based on our individual needs. Salt intake levels are determined in the brain. Our cerebral cortex senses each person’s needs and creates an appetite that is more powerful than an individual’s conscious choice.

Thirst, for instance, is a signal that our bodies need water to help balance the salt we have consumed. A craving for salt reflects a healthy need. When healthy, our bodies are able to use the amount of salt they need, and expel any excess by processing through the kidneys.

The FDA doesn’t agree with this or with JFK. Pity.

For now, there has been no set amount of salt limit. They don’t know that yet. Instead, the FDA is going to spend an undeclared amount of taxpayer money, in what sounds an awful lot like a free smorgasbord, testing “spaghetti sauces, breads and thousands of other products”. Then the regulations will be handed down from on high.

In the meantime, the FDA salt regulations will have to determine whether or not to exempt salty foods like pickles or whether to staff grocery stores and smack consumers’ hands when they reach for a jar of Vlasic.

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77 Responses to “FDA Salt Regulation: No Salt For You!”

When government sees salt they see another mechanism for regulation. Period. Same with butter, trans-fats, coffee, sugar, everything good. Anything good.

These studies they do always crack me up. Seems like they’ll do a study that shows salt or coffee or something will kill you and then 15 years later another batch of experts does another study that says the same thing is good for you.

Here’s an idea. Leave me alone and let me drink coffee, eat salt, and lick the bottom of the butter tub if I’m so inclined.

2

newfangled voice Says:
April 20th, 2010 at 5:45 pm

Salt is a killer. And our diet needs an enema.

This is common sense. What took so long. Long live Obama and that fresh food guy.

3

newfangled voice Says:
April 20th, 2010 at 5:47 pm

Shannon,

Who will regulate your eruptions? Not me. But you definately need to be curtailed.

The devil is in the details.

When you hit 300 lbs post a photo so we can all get a good laugh.

4

Brian Says:
April 20th, 2010 at 6:05 pm

For the longest time I have wanted lower salt canned and frozen goods and vegtable juices. They taste way too salty to me. And the few brands that do offer lower salt versions charge a high premium price for that priveledge. Lunch meats have too much salt too and taste horrible to me. I am glad they are going to slowly rachet the salt down, and I find adding spices can greatly enhnace the taste and are better for you. A processed turkey slice sandwich can easily have half to a gram and a half salt in it the meat alone. Thats just too much. Its not a nanny state to get our food companies to make the food more palatable and healthier. Its good public health, just like clean drinking water or flouride for kids teeth or vaccinations. the average amount of salt an Americano eats a day is 4-5 grams, so some do way worse. You only need a quarter or so of that to be healthy. some people become genetic salt retainers and build up high blood sodium increasing their blood pressure quitely and unaware. So yes, we do need to watch our salt. There is no need for any big research project as docters already recommend keeping salt down to 1-1.5 grams a day, unless you are sweating a lot in a hot environment. Then you would need a little more. There really is no big deal here.

5

micky Says:
April 20th, 2010 at 6:38 pm

If people learned how to cook they’d have less dilema.
Its really very simple. After years in culinary institutions and apprenticeships I realized that cooking/baking is really basic chemistry. Apply some imagination and stick to some basic gastronomics its really not a big deal.
If you’re a lousy cook or dont feel like it, read the label. Too much sodium. Dont buy it. The market will catch on.
It blows my mind how theres elements on the left that want totally nanny state our lives til the death because they’re so worried about our health yet they want to legalize drugs and support a public school system that feeds our kids nothing but carbs, fats, and mistery meat.
Whats next ? Outlaw the salt shaker ?

6

micky Says:
April 20th, 2010 at 6:48 pm

newfangled voice Says:

“Salt is a killer.”

Its also an essential mineral. Your body does need a minimal amount to function.

“Shannon,

Who will regulate your eruptions? Not me. But you definately need to be curtailed.

The devil is in the details.

When you hit 300 lbs post a photo so we can all get a good laugh.”

Salt does not contribute to weight gain.

You’re a moron. The authors main intent was to inform you with factual elements on the benefits of salt and her rejection to being babysat by the goverment and you go after her persona instead of making adecent argument or posting facts refute her claims.
Why dont you post a photo of yourself ? Yeah, I know you wont. Lots of zits usually come with puberty, I understand

7

micky Says:
April 20th, 2010 at 6:51 pm

My apologies, you’re attack was on Shannon, not the author.
You’re still a moron.

newfangled, the weight gain or bad nutrition isn’t the point. The point is it’s my decision. My health. I don’t need the government monitoring my salt intake or any other vice I may have.

bottom line: It’s none of your business.

9

micky Says:
April 20th, 2010 at 6:57 pm

I’ll bet this all leads up to rejection of services clause in the healthcare bill if its not in there yet. Bloodtest will screen for sodium and if yours is to high they’ll reject your claim or deny services “cuz yer just not eatin right”
Medicade and Medicare already turn down twice as many claims as the private sector does and since according to the CBO and Greenspan our budget is unsustainable I guess they’ll have to find a way to skimp on services.

10

Brian Says:
April 20th, 2010 at 7:28 pm

So Shannon as an LLD you want hypertension, cardiovascular and eye and kidney disease and all the endless bills and hospitlizations and dialysis caurse you have a craving for salt licks called sandwhiches??

well think of public policy, if your decison costs medicare 450,000 to dialyze you, get your kidney transplant, replace your coronary blood vessels, and I and other people are footing the bill thru insurance premiums or tax dollars its not fair to us and wasteful of “our” money. when all you had to do was eat a saner amount of salt your lifetime. you owe us. and in return we won’t smoke cigarettes and rachet up your bill. that is a better policy than lazy fair on your own health. by that token we should legalize all drugs so we dont have to foot the bill for prison stays and court and police.

13

newfangled voice Says:
April 20th, 2010 at 8:05 pm

Shannon,

bottom line: It’s none of your business.

So why did you post what you posted?

You Sir, are a caveman.

14

micky Says:
April 20th, 2010 at 8:06 pm

Brian;
“if your decison costs medicare 450,000 to dialyze you, get your kidney transplant, replace your coronary blood vessels, and I and other people are footing the bill thru insurance premiums or tax dollars its not fair to us and wasteful of “our” money. when all you had to do was eat a saner amount of salt your lifetime.”

Nah, I’m married to a woman.
Since Shannon is a unisexual name I make that mistake often.
Slip o the finger, little brain fart. I’m sure you’ve seen plenty of em.

Lets have that pic bro. Lets see what a gleeming of health really looks like.
Shannons pics already up in the”about us” page.
You’re up.

21

newfangled voice Says:
April 20th, 2010 at 8:24 pm

I was referring to your poor choice of political cohorts, not your lovely wife.

22

newfangled voice Says:
April 20th, 2010 at 8:35 pm

Salt does not contribute to weight gain.

No, it just kills you. So, by all means keep licking the bottome of that butter churn.

23

newfangled voice Says:
April 20th, 2010 at 8:37 pm

Salt does not contribute to weight gain.

No, it just kills you. So, by all means keep licking the bottome of that butter churn.

Obamacare to the rescue!

24

newfangled voice Says:
April 20th, 2010 at 8:41 pm

Whats next ? Outlaw the salt shaker ?

Yep.

25

micky Says:
April 20th, 2010 at 8:47 pm

Newfangled.
I’m a professional chef with an Assoc.Science in management. Not your garden variety self proclaimed burger flipper who after 5 year decides to call himself a chef.
The pre-requisites are extensive courses in nutrition/menu planning and special medical dietary needs.
I’ve prepared more banquets and fed more royalty and politicians than you’ll ever know
32 years ag I prepared and placed Nixons Eggs Benedict in front of him.
Benedict… Looking back now theres sort of an irony in that
This salt thing is all bullsht even if the manufacturers lowers sodium content(which they’ve been doing voluntarily), simply because if it taste like sht we’ll still be able to reach for the shaker, unless I suppose they ban those also. A mother cant breast feed her child in public without ridicule. A man cant stand on the corner and have a smoke without being demonized
Enough of this government already that the people have turned to for ’social justice’, for protection and aid, in the form of labor and social legislation, for reason and order, in the form of government ‘planning.’ This is the government that has implemented progressive income taxation and inheritance taxation, (death tax) minimum wage laws and maximum-hour laws, laws giving special privileges and immunities to labor unions; antitrust legislation, social security legislation, public education; public housing, socialized medicine; nationalized or municipalized post offices, utilities, railroads, subways, and buslines, subsidies for farmers, shippers, manufacturers, borrowers, lenders, the unemployed, students, tenants, and the ‘needy’ of every description. This is the government that has implemented food and drug regulation, building codes and zoning laws, occupational health and safety legislation, and more. This government has created arbitrary money and abolished the gold standard — to make possible the inflation of the money supply without limit. They have, in short, created over fifty thousand new laws and countless other regulations, which have swept across the country and the world with the force of a fcking tsunami, so that the concept of self-ownership, self-governance, and limited government seems like some bullsht joke to all but a handful who understand what’s at stake. Soooooo, any mention of individual rights, the recognition of which is the only way for humans to actually live prosperously and freely, is now considered out-of-date. Yet if human freedom is ever won, it is only through the recognition of each individual’s absolute right to his or her own life and his or her own property that will accomplish it.

Please think about that the next time you morons call from “more government involvement “just in case” because, after all, what could the harm be?”